Controller for DC to DC converter

ABSTRACT

A DC to DC converter to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The DC to DC converter may include a pair of switches including a high side switch and a low side switch, an inductor coupled to the pair of switches; and a controller. The controller may be configured to estimate a zero crossing of an inductor current through the inductor without directly measuring said inductor current. An associated method is also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of application Ser. No.10/389,037 filed Mar. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,221, theteachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, which claimsthe benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/425,553, filed Nov. 12, 2002, the teachings of which are alsoincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates controllers for DC to DC converters and inparticular to controllers for DC to DC converters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

DC to DC converters are used to convert an input DC voltage to an outputDC voltage. Such converters may step down (buck) or step up (boost) theinput DC voltage. One type of buck converter is a synchronous buckconverter. This converter typically has a controller, driver, a pair ofswitches, and an LC filter coupled to the pair of switches. Thecontroller provides a control signal to the driver which then drives thepair of switches, e.g., a high side switch and a low side switch. Thedriver alternately turns each switch ON and OFF thereby controllinginductor current and the output voltage of the DC to DC converter. Suchcontrollers typically utilize a pulse width modulated signal to controlthe state of the high and low side switches.

In general, if the PWM signal is high, the high side switch is ON andthe low side switch if OFF. This state of switches will be referred toherein as a “switch ON” state. In this state, the inductor is coupled tothe input voltage source. In a buck converter, the input voltage isnecessarily greater than the output voltage so there is a net positivevoltage across the inductor in this switch ON state. Accordingly, theinductor current begins to ramp up. If the PWM signal is low, the highside switch is OFF and the low side switch is ON. This state of switcheswill be referred to as a “switch OFF” state. In a buck converter, thereis a net negative voltage across the inductor in this state.Accordingly, the inductor current begins to ramp down during this lowside switch OFF state. Hence, the pulse width of the PWM signaldetermines the time on for the switch ON state and the time off for theswitch OFF state. Such pulse width may be adjusted by directlymonitoring the inductor current level via a sense resistor or bycomparing the output voltage with a reference voltage level.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a controller for a DC to DCconverter that provides a PWM signal during a first time interval basedon an input voltage to the DC to DC converter less a signalrepresentative of the output voltage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a DC to DCconverter to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The DC to DCconverter may include a pair of switches including a high side switchand a low side switch, an inductor coupled to the pair of switches, anda controller. The controller may be configured to estimate a zerocrossing of an inductor current through the inductor without directlymeasuring the inductor current.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus comprising a controller for a DC to DC converter. Thecontroller may be configured to estimate a zero crossing of an inductorcurrent through an inductor of the DC to DC converter without directlymeasuring the inductor current.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided amethod. The method may include estimating a zero crossing of an inductorcurrent through an inductor of a DC to DC converter without directlymeasuring the inductor current.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which descriptionshould be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a DC to DC converter including acontroller consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an exemplary table illustrating switch states for the pair ofswitches of FIG. 1A based on the input PWM signal and low side enablesignal;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of one embodiment of a controller for usewith the DC to DC converter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a plot illustrating the changes in charge level on the energystorage element of the controller of FIG. 2A compared to the associatedchanges in inductor current levels over similar time intervals;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a controller for usewith the DC to DC converter of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of an exemplary delay circuit ofFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary DC to DC converter 100 including acontroller 102 consistent with the present invention. The controller 102consistent with the invention may be utilized with a variety of DC to DCconverters. The illustrated DC to DC converter 100 is a synchronous buckconverter generally including the controller 102, a driver circuit 104,a pair of switches 106 including a high side switch Q1 and a low sideswitch Q2, and a low pass filter 108. The low pass filter includes aninductor L and a capacitor C.

The controller 102 is generally configured to provide a PWM signal and alow side switch enable signal (LDR_EN) to the driver circuit 104. Basedon such signals, the driver circuit 104 controls the state of the highside switch Q1 and the low side switch Q2.

The controller 102 has a target input terminal SLEW where the desiredoutput voltage is set. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1A, the slewcapacitor Cslew charges based on the value of the resistors in theresistor divider R2/R3 and the value of the reference voltage REF. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize various ways to charge the slewcapacitor Cslew and create the target voltage signal. In this instance,the voltage slews from 0 to a set value due to the slew capacitor Cslew.An optional sense resistor R1 may be utilized to provide a feedbackvoltage level to terminals CSN and CSP of the controller 102representative of the current level through the inductor L. In addition,terminal VFB of the controller 102 may accept a feedback signalrepresentative of the output voltage level Vout.

Turning to FIG. 1B, an exemplary table 120 illustrating various switchstates of the high side switch Q1 and the low side switch Q2 of FIG. 1Ais illustrated for various PWM and LDR_EN signals. If the LDR_EN signalis a digital one as in category 122 of the table 120, then the state ofthe PWM signal controls the switches Q1 and Q2. For instance, Q1 is ONand Q2 is OFF in this instance 122 if PWM is a digital one. This isreferred to as a switch ON state. In addition, Q1 is OFF and Q2 is ON inthis instance 122 if PWM is a digital zero. This is referred to as aswitch OFF state.

In contrast, if the LDR_EN signal is digital zero and PWM is a digitalone, then the switches Q1 and Q2 are in the switch ON state. However, ifPWM is a digital zero in this instance, the low side switch Q2 remainsopen. As such, both the high side switch Q1 and the low side switch Q2are OFF in this skip state or switch disabled state. The switching sideof the inductor L will therefore be left floating in such a skip state.

The inductor L has one end attached to the output DC voltage and theother switch end alternately attached to input voltage Vin or grounddepending on the state of the switches Q2 and Q1 (switch ON or switchOFF state). In the switch ON state, the inductor is coupled to inputvoltage Vin. Neglecting the voltage drop across the sense resistor R1which is quite small, the voltage difference between the terminals ofthe inductor L is equal to Vin−Vout. In a buck converter, the inputvoltage Vin is necessarily larger than the output voltage Vout, so thereis a net positive voltage across the inductor and the inductor currentramps up according to equation 1 during the switch ON state.di/dt=(Vin−Vout)/L=ΔI/Ton  (1)

In equation 1, Vin is the input voltage to the DC to DC converter, Voutis the output voltage of the DC to DC converter, Ton is the timeinterval duration that the switches Q1 and Q2 are in the switch ONstate, L is the value of the inductor L, and ΔI is the change in theinductor current during Ton. During the switch OFF state, the voltageacross the inductor L is proportional to Vout. In a buck converter inthis instance, there is a net negative voltage across the inductor andthe inductor current ramps down according to equation 2.di/dt=(Vout)/L=ΔI/Toff  (2)

In equation 2, Vout is the output voltage of the DC to DC converter,Toff is the time interval duration that the switches Q1 and Q2 are inthe switch OFF state, L is the value of the inductor L, and ΔI is thechange in the inductor current during Toff.

Turning to FIG. 2A, a more detailed block diagram of one embodiment of acontroller 200 for use with the DC to DC converter of FIG. 1 isillustrated. In general, the controller 200 provides a digital one PWMsignal to place the switches Q1, Q2 in the switch ON state based on adifference between a first signal representative of the input voltageless a second signal representative of the output voltage. The secondsignal may be a target voltage level signal, e.g., Vslew, or it may bean output voltage level signal, e.g., Vout. In general, use of a targetvoltage level signal offers smoother current generation. In a buckconverter, the duty cycle of a PWM signal from the controller 200 isgenerally inversely proportional to the difference between the inputvoltage and the output voltage or the target voltage. In other words, asthis difference increases, the duty cycle of the PWM signal decreasesthereby decreasing the “switch ON” time of the switches Q1 and Q2.Conversely, as the difference between the first signal and second signaldecreases, the duty cycle of the PWM signal increases thereby decreasingthe “switch OFF” time of the switches Q1 and Q2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, such control is generally dictated bycharging an energy storage element 202 during a first time interval anddischarging the energy storage element 202 during a second timeinterval. During the first time interval the PWM output signal is adigital one and hence the switches Q1 and Q2 are in the switch ON stateand the inductor current rises in proportion to the charge on the energystorage element 202. Once the charge on the energy storage element 202reaches a predetermined charge threshold level, the PWM signal changesto a digital zero and hence the switches are driven to the switch OFFstate. Accordingly, the inductor current then decreases in proportion tothe decrease in the charge on the energy storage element 202.

The controller 200 may generally include various current sources I1, I2,and I3 for charging and discharging the energy storage element 202 basedon the results of various voltage comparisons by comparators CMP2, CMP3,and CMP4. The first current source I1 is proportional to the outputvoltage or a target voltage, e.g., Vslew, and configured to provide afirst current level and the second current source I2 is proportional tothe input voltage of the DC to DC converter and configured to provide asecond current level. Finally, a third current source I3 is proportionalto the output voltage and configured to provide a third current levelwhich is typically, but not necessarily, greater than the first currentlevel. The third current source I3 is not mandatory. However, it helpsto filter out the parasitic-triggering of a new PWM pulse. If the thirdcurrent source I3 is not utilized, switch S2 can directly discharge theenergy storage element 202. The controller 200 may also include anoutput decision circuit 240 to provide the PWM signal to the switchdriver circuit.

The controller 200 may further include a first comparator CMP1 that isconfigured to compare the charge on the energy storage element 202,e.g., capacitor C1, with a second voltage reference V2. The secondvoltage reference may be a nominal value, e.g., 20 mV in one embodiment,coupled to the positive terminal of the comparator CMP1 such that CMP1provides a high signal if the charge on the energy storage element isbelow the nominal V2 value.

The output of the comparator CMP1 may be further coupled to NAND gateG1. A SKIP input may also be coupled to another input of the NAND gageG1. If the SKIP signal is digital zero, then the LDR_EN signal is adigital one regardless of the signal from the comparator CMP1 and hencethe PWM signal controls the state of the switches Q1, Q2. If however,SKIP is a digital one and the output from CMP1 is digital one, then theoutput of NAND gate G1 is a digital zero. As such, if PWM is a digitalzero, then both switches Q1 and Q2 will be driven OFF.

In operation, the charge on the energy storage element 202 is initiallyset at zero volts since it is discharged to ground and the outputdecision circuit 240 provides a digital zero PWM signal. When thecontroller is enabled, the SLEW voltage will start to increase from zerotowards the ratio based on R2 and R3. The comparator CMP3 will thensense the SLEW voltage is greater than the feedback voltage VFB, whichis representative of the output voltage Vout, and provide a digital onesignal to the AND gate G2 of the output decision circuit 240.

Since there is no current yet through the inductor L, the comparatorCMP4 does not sense an over-current condition and provides a digital onesignal to the AND gate G2. In addition, since the charge on the energystorage element 202 element has been discharged to zero volts, theoutput signal of the comparator CMP1 is also a digital one whencomparing the charge to the nominal voltage threshold V2. As such, allinput signals to the AND gate G2 are a digital one and the flip flop 242is set. At that moment, the PWM signal goes to a digital one and switchS1 is closed.

When switch S1 is closed, the energy storage element 202 is charged by acurrent level equal to the second current level provided by the secondcurrent source I2 less the first current level provided by the firstcurrent source I1. Advantageously, the first current source I1 mayprovide a first current level representative of the output voltage,e.g., this may be directly proportional to the output voltage level,e.g., Vout, or a target voltage level, e.g., Vslew or Vtarget. As such,the energy storage element 202 is charged with a current levelproportional to I (Yin−Vout) or (Vin−Vslew).

The energy storage element 202 is charged until it reaches apredetermined threshold voltage level, e.g., V1 or 2.5 volts in oneembodiment. The comparator CMP2 compares the charge on the energystorage element 202 with the predetermined threshold voltage level V1and provides an output signal to the output decision circuit 240 basedon the difference. If the charge on the energy storage element 202reaches the predetermined threshold voltage level V1, then comparatorCMP2 will output a digital one signal to the reset terminal R of theflip flop 242 resetting the flip flop so its output Q is moved to adigital zero and hence the PWM signal is also moved to a digital zero.

At this time, switch S1 is open since output Q is a digital zero. Assuch, the energy storage element 202 is now discharged by current sourceI1. An accelerated discharge of the energy storage element 202 may alsooccur if the output of the AND gate G3 is a digital one. This occurs ifthe PWM signal is a digital zero hence one input to the AND gate G3 fromthe QB terminal of the flip flop 242 is a digital one. In addition, theother input to the AND gate G3 from comparator CMP3 is a digital one ifthe feedback voltage VFB signal is less than the SLEW voltage. As such,a digital one from the AND gate G3 will close switch S2. As such, athird current source 13 may also be coupled to the energy storageelement 202 to provide an accelerated discharge. In one embodiment, thecurrent source 13 has a value of 10×I_Vout, but its value can beadjusted depending on the particular energy storage element 202 andother parameters to find a desired accelerated discharge level.Alternatively, the third current source 13 may be replaced by a shortsuch that switch S2 will discharge the energy storage element to ground.

The voltage level on the energy storage element 202 will continue to bedischarged while the PWM signal is a digital zero. It may be dischargedat a normal rate or an accelerated rate depending on a comparison of theSLEW voltage with the feedback voltage VFB as provided by comparatorCMP3.

Once the voltage level on the energy storage element 202 is dischargedto a value less than the nominal threshold level V2 (hence the output ofcomparator CMP1 is a digital one), and the outputs of comparators CMP3and CMP4 are also a digital one, a new PWM pulse is generated as theoutput Q of the flip flop goes to a digital one.

Turning to FIG. 2B in conjunction with FIG. 2A, a plot 203 of thevoltage level on the energy storage element 202 over time isillustrated. In addition another plot 205 of the inductor current levelin inductor L is illustrated over similar time intervals. For instance,at the start time (t0) of operation of the controller 200 the charge onthe energy storage element is zero volts. Over a first time interval orTon between time to and t1 when the PWM output signal is a digital one,the voltage level on the energy storage element 202 rises linearly untilthe charge level reaches a predetermined charge threshold level V1,e.g., 2.5 volts in one embodiment.

As such, Ton between time t0 and t1 depends on the difference between asignal representative of the input voltage Vin and a signalrepresentative of the output voltage, e.g., Vout or Vtarget, since theenergy storage element 202 is charged during this time interval with acurrent level equal proportionate to this difference (current sourceI2−I1). The duration of Ton also depends on the threshold voltage levelV1 and the value of the energy storage element 202. Where the energystorage element is a capacitor C1 and the second current source isdirectly proportional to Vout, the duration of the Ton is given byequation 3 below:Ton=C1*V1/I(Vin−Vout)  (3)

Where C1 is the value of the capacitor C1, V1 is predetermined chargethreshold level (2.5 volts in one example) and I (Vin−Vout) is the valueof the charging current provided by the difference between the secondcurrent source I2 and the first current source I1 when the secondcurrent source is directly proportional to Vout.

If the Ton as represented in equation (3) is utilized as the Ton for theinductor current in equation (1), then equation (1) can be rewritten asΔI=(Vin−Vout)*(C1*V1/I(Vin−Vout))/L  (4)

Since (Vin−Vout)/I(Vin−Vout) is constant then ΔI=constant because everyother term (L, V1, and C1) is a constant.

As such, during the Ton state between t0 and t1, the inductor currentrises proportionately to the rise in the voltage level of the energystorage element 202. During a second time interval between t1 and t2,the charge level on the energy storage element is decreased due todischarging. In comparison, the inductor current level also decreasesover this time period. Advantageously, when the charge level on theenergy storage element 202 reaches zero, e.g., at time t2, the inductorcurrent level at time t2 should be zero. As such, the controller 200also provides a zero crossing inductor current estimator.

The skipping mode when enabled (when the SKIP signal is a digital one)uses this fact that for every PWM pulse the starting inductor current iszero and the energy storage element is completely discharged. When theenergy storage element is discharged below the nominal value V2, theoutput of the comparator CMP1 becomes a digital one. If the skippingmode is enabled then LDR_EN is forced to a digital zero through AND gateG1. So when the inductor current crosses zero, the low side switch Q2will be OFF as well the high side switch Q1. Therefore, the switchingside of the inductor L will be left floating. The skipping mode isuseful for light load conditions because a new PWM cycle will start whenthe load discharges the energy storage element, thus minimizing the Q1and Q2 switching and conduction losses.

Turning to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a controller 300 consistentwith the invention is illustrated. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1A,the controller 300 provides a PWM control signal to an associated drivercircuit based on the input voltage to the associated DC to DC converterless a signal representative of the output voltage, e.g., Vout orVtarget. However, rather than charge and discharge an energy storageelement, the controller 300 essentially counts blocks of time andprovides the appropriate PWM and LDR_EN signal based on such counts.

For instance, the controller 300 may generally include an on-time oneshot circuit 302, a low side driver one shot circuit 304, a comparator306, a time delay circuit 308, and a NOR gate 310. The time delaycircuit 308 may be a blanking circuit for generating retriggering of theon-time one shot circuit 302. The one shot circuits 302 and 304 may betriggered by the falling edge of the input signals.

Ideally, the on-time for the one shot circuit 302 is proportional todifference between the input voltage Vin of the DC to DC converter and atarget voltage Vtarget for the output of the DC to DC converter andT_(LDR) is proportional to Vtarget as detailed in equation (5).$\begin{matrix}{\frac{T_{on}}{T_{LDR}} \cong \frac{V_{target}}{V_{i\quad n} - V_{target}}} & (5)\end{matrix}$

In practice, T_(LDR) is typically chosen to be slightly shorter thansuggested by equation (5). There are several ways to produceTon/T_(LDR). Typically, Vtarget is either a fixed value or one changingin discrete steps. Both delays for the one shot circuits 302 and 304 canbe digital with the actual delay being a multiple of an elementary timedelay, e.g., delay To as given by equations (6) and (7) below.Ton=To1*M  (6)T _(LDR) =To2*N  (7)

Turning to FIG. 4, an exemplary delay circuit 400 is illustrated forproducing the desired delay to maintain a proper time on for the on-timeone shot circuit 302. The delay circuit 400 generally includes anoscillator 402 for producing time pulses, a counter 404 for counting thetime pulses, and a digital comparator 406 for comparing the countedvalue to an applicable multiple such as M or N. The comparator thusprovides an output signal indicative of whether or not the counter 404has reached the necessary amount of counts M or N. Therefore, theapplicable on time is controlled by counting the number of countscompared to the multiple M or N.

Hence controlling the multiple M and N essentially selects theapplicable delay. Since Ton is a function of Vin and Vtarget and T_(LDR)is a function of Vtarget, there are a couple of ways to control them. Ina first case, To1 and To2 are equal and constant. As such, the multipleN may be produced by a lookup table (LUT) from the digital signal thatsets Vtarget. The LUT in this instance is one dimensional since variousN values correspond to an associated Vtarget value. In the same casewhere To1 and To2 are equal and constant, the multiple M may be producedby a LUT from both the digital signal that sets Vtarget and adigitalized Vin signal. Such a digitalized Vin signal may be obtained byutilizing an AD converter on Vin. As such, the LUT to produce M in thisinstance is bi-dimensional since M values correspond to an associatedVtarget and Vin values.

In another case, To1 and To2 are not equal. In this case, the multiple Nis produced similarly as in the first case if To2 is constant. Themultiple M may be produced by a uni-dimensional LUT having as an inputthe digital signal that sets Vtarget. However, To1 is not longer fixedbut a function of either Vin or a function of both Vin and Vtarget.

The embodiments that have been described herein, however, are but someof the several which utilize this invention and are set forth here byway of illustration but not of limitation. It is obvious that many otherembodiments, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,may be made without departing materially from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A DC to DC converter to convert an input voltage to an outputvoltage, said DC to DC converter comprising: a pair of switchescomprising a high side switch and a low side switch; an inductor coupledto said pair of switches; and a controller configured to estimate a zerocrossing of an inductor current through said inductor without directlymeasuring said inductor current.
 2. The DC to DC converter of claim 1,wherein said controller is further configured to provide a pulse widthmodulated (PWM) signal and a low side switch enabling signal, said lowside switch responsive to said PWM signal and said low side switchenabling signal, said controller configured to provide said PWM signalin a digital one state during a first time interval that is inverselyproportional with said input voltage less said output voltage.
 3. The DCto DC converter of claim 1, wherein said controller is furtherconfigured to provide a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal and a lowside switch enabling signal, said controller comprising a capacitor,wherein said zero crossing of said inductor current is estimated bymonitoring when a charge on said capacitor is less than a low voltagethreshold.
 4. The DC to DC converter of claim 3, wherein said high sideswitch is responsive to said PWM signal and said low side switch isresponsive to said PWM signal and said low side switch enabling signalto have said high and low side switches switch to a switch ON state whensaid PWM signal is a digital one and said low side switch enablingsignal is a digital one, said high and low side switches furtherconfigured to switch to a switch OFF state when said PWM signal is adigital zero and said low side switch enabling signal is a digital one,said high and low side switches further configured to both switch OFF ina skip state when said low side enabling signal is a digital zero andsaid PWM signal is a digital zero.
 5. The DC to DC converter of claim 1,wherein said controller comprises: a first current source configured toprovide a first current level; a second current source configured toprovide a second current level; and a capacitor configured to be chargedby a charging current equal to said second current level less said firstcurrent level during a first time interval, wherein said first timeinterval has a start time and an end time, said start time occurringwhen a charge level on said capacitor is substantially zero and said endtime occurring when a charge level of said capacitor is greater than acharge threshold level, wherein said zero crossing of said inductorcurrent is estimated by said start time of said first time interval. 6.The DC to DC converter of claim 5, wherein said capacitor is dischargedduring a second time interval, and wherein said controller provides saidPWM signal in a digital zero state during said second time interval,wherein said second time interval has a start time and an end time, saidstart time of said second time interval occurring when a charge level ofsaid capacitor is greater than said charge threshold level and said endtime of said second time interval occurring when a charge level of saidcapacitor is substantially zero, wherein said zero crossing of saidinductor current is estimated by said end time of said second timeinterval.
 7. An apparatus comprising: a controller for a DC to DCconverter, said controller configured to estimate a zero crossing of aninductor current through an inductor of said DC to DC converter withoutdirectly measuring said inductor current.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said controller is further configured to provide a pulse widthmodulated (PWM) signal and a low side switch enabling signal, said DC toDC converter having a high side switch and a low side switch, whereinsaid low side switch is responsive to said PWM signal and said low sideswitch enabling signal, said controller configured to provide said PWMsignal in a digital one state during a first time interval that isinversely proportional with an input voltage of said DC to DC converterless an output voltage of said DC to DC converter.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein said controller is further configured to provide apulse width modulated (PWM) signal and a low side switch enablingsignal, said controller comprising a capacitor, wherein said zerocrossing of said inductor current is estimated by monitoring when acharge on said capacitor is less than a low voltage threshold.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein said controller comprises: a first currentsource configured to provide a first current level; a second currentsource configured to provide a second current level; and a capacitorconfigured to be charged by a charging current equal to said secondcurrent level less said first current level during a first timeinterval, wherein said first time interval has a start time and an endtime, said start time occurring when a charge level on said capacitor issubstantially zero and said end time occurring when a charge level onsaid capacitor is greater than a charge threshold level, wherein saidzero crossing of said inductor current is estimated by said start timeof said first time interval.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein saidcapacitor is discharged during a second time interval, and wherein saidcontroller provides said PWM signal in a digital zero state during saidsecond time interval, wherein said second time interval has a start timeand an end time, said start time of said second time interval occurringwhen a charge level of said capacitor is greater than said chargethreshold level and said end time of said second time interval occurringwhen a charge level of said capacitor is substantially zero, whereinsaid zero crossing of said inductor current is estimated by said endtime of said second time interval.
 12. A method comprising: estimating azero crossing of an inductor current through an inductor of a DC to DCconverter without directly measuring said inductor current.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: providing a pulse widthmodulated (PWM) signal in a digital one state, a high side switch ofsaid DC to DC converter switching ON in response to said PWM signal insaid digital one state; and determining a time interval to maintain saidPWM signal in said digital one state, said time interval inverselyproportional with an input voltage of said DC to DC converter less anoutput voltage of said DC to DC converter.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein said zero crossing of said inductor current is estimated bymonitoring a charge on a capacitor of a controller for said DC to DCconverter, said zero crossing occurring when a charge level of saidcapacitor is less than a low voltage threshold.
 15. The method of claim12, wherein said zero crossing of said inductor current is estimated bymonitoring a charge on a capacitor of a controller for said DC to DCconverter, said zero crossing occurring when a charge level of saidcapacitor is substantially zero.
 16. The method of claim 12, whereinsaid zero crossing of said inductor current is estimated by counting aplurality of pulses.